 | November 29, 2006 - Clariant has announced the launch of an innovative new way to protect food packaging from oil damage. Cartapack has been created without the use of fluorine specifically for packaging manufacturers and end users.
The team at Clariant took a fresh look at the use of coatings to protect paper and board from the damaging effects of oils, fats and other liquids. The extensive program of research and development began almost two years ago, after detailed discussions with customers in both the packaging and major global fast food industries.
The new coating is unique to Clariant and specifically formulated for the food industry. Fluorine-free Cartapack has been designed to be applied in much the same way as other coatings, yet it provides better specific protection from the oils and fats found in cooked foods.
Cartapack is an aqueous proprietary formulation containing an emulsion and can be tailored to individual customers’ requirements depending on substrate and choice of coating technique.
In order to ensure that Cartapack would provide comparable performance a new test was developed by Clariant to measure its effectiveness. Alongside the industry standard Kit Test (Tappi T559) – which tests coated paper and board against penetration by a range of test liquids - the new test, developed in association with end users, proves ‘real-world’ effectiveness.
The test uses a grade of corn oil commonly found in foodstuffs to test absorbency and resistance. Cartapack demonstrated a measurable improvement against other barrier coatings on a range of substrates commonly used in the fast-food industry.
Clariant is confident that this new coating will provide a specific range of effects for packaging manufacturers and food companies alike – with the added advantage of being 100% fluorine-free. A spokesman said, ‘We have worked alongside packaging and fast-food experts to develop a response to the demand for fluorine-free products. Clariant is unique in our approach to research and development and our commitment to working in partnership has resulted not only in a product that meets performance and environmental demands, but a new method of testing designed with the end user in mind.’
Cartapack complies with the following:
FDA 21 CFR 176:170
FDA 21 CFR 176:180
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